III 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 172 

Affirming the importance of a national weekend of prayer for the victims 

of genocide and crimes against humanity in Darfur, Sudan, and expressing the sense of the Senate that July 15 through 17, 2005, should 

be designated as a national weekend of prayer and reflection for Darfur. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 16, 2005 

Mr. BROWNBACK (for himself and Mr. CORZINE) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION

Affirming the importance of a national weekend of prayer 

for the victims of genocide and crimes against humanity 

in Darfur, Sudan, and expressing the sense of the Senate 

that July 15 through 17, 2005, should be designated 

as a national weekend of prayer and reflection for 

Darfur.

Whereas, on July 22, 2004, Congress declared that genocide 

was taking place in Darfur, Sudan; 

Whereas, on September 9, 2004, Secretary of State Colin L. 

Powell testified to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations that ‘‘genocide has been committed in Darfur’’; 

Whereas, on September 21, 2004, President George W. Bush 

stated to the United Nations General Assembly that ‘‘the 
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•SRES 172 IS

world is witnessing terrible suffering and horrible crimes 

in the Darfur region of Sudan, crimes my government 

has concluded are genocide’’; 

Whereas Article 1 of the Convention on the Prevention and 

Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, done at Paris December 9, 1948, and entered into force January 12, 

1951, states that ‘‘[t]he Contracting Parties confirm that 

genocide, whether committed in time of peace or in time 

of war, is a crime under international law which they undertake to prevent and to punish’’; 

Whereas fundamental human rights, including the right to 

freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, are protected in numerous international agreements and declarations; 

Whereas the United Nations Security Council, in Security 

Council Resolution 1591, condemned the ‘‘continued violations of the N’djamena Ceasefire Agreement of 8 April 

2004 and the Abuja Protocols of 9 November 2004 by 

all sides in Darfur and the deterioration of the security 

situation and negative impact this has had on humanitarian assistance efforts’’; 

Whereas scholars estimate that as many as 400,000 have 

died from violence, hunger and disease since the outbreak 

of conflict in Darfur began in 2003, and that as many 

as 10,000 may be dying each month; 

Whereas it is estimated that more than 2,000,000 people 

have been displaced from their homes and remain in 

camps in Darfur and Chad; 

Whereas religious leaders, genocide survivors, and world leaders have expressed grave concern over the continuing 

atrocities taking place in Darfur; and 
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•SRES 172 IS

Whereas it is appropriate that the people of the United 

States, leaders and citizens alike, unite in prayer for the 

people of Darfur and reflect upon the situation in 

Darfur: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate— 

2 (1) that the weekend of July 15 through 17, 

3 2005, should be designated as a National Weekend 

4 of Prayer and Reflection for Darfur, Sudan; 

5 (2) to encourage the people of the United 

6 States to observe that weekend by praying for an 

7 end to the genocide and crimes against humanity 

8 and for lasting peace in Darfur, Sudan; and 

9 (3) to urge all churches, synagogues, mosques, 

10 and religious institutions in the United States to 

11 consider the issue of Darfur in their activities and 

12 to observe the National Weekend of Prayer and Re13 flection with appropriate activities and services.

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